Hail Caesar! Parent Guide

Modern audiences may not be sufficiently familiar with the films, stars, and era being mocked to appreciate or ignore the lack of a cohesive storyline.

In 1950’s Hollywood, a movie star (George Clooney) is kidnaped during the filming of a picture titled Hail Caesar! Now it’s up to studio executive Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) to get him back while trying to maintain the calm appearance of business as usual.

Parent Movie Reviewby Donna Gustafson

I suspect many of us grew up dreaming about being movie stars, and wondering what it would be like to sing, dance or act in our favorite films. After watching Hail, Caesar! I have come to the conclusion that this fantasy is not exclusive to “ordinary” people. Obviously the big name actors who appear in this Coen Brothers production share some of that enthusiasm—because they all seem to be really enjoying recreating the sort of entertainment Hollywood was cranking out during its golden age. In fact, they are almost having too much fun.

In this spoof set in 1951, Josh Brolin is cast as executive Eddie Mannix. In truth he is a “fixer” employed to make the studio look good by keeping the bad behavior of its associated celebrities out of the gossip columns. He plays with relish the part of a devout Catholic, whose biggest sin is cheating on a promise to his wife to quit smoking. Loyal to the studio chief, Mannix uses his talents to put the best spin possible on the misdemeanors of his colleagues. Occasionally that means he slaps some sense into them in private (literally—he strikes both a man and a woman) so they will “act” more appropriately in public.

One of Mannix’s biggest problems is the sudden disappearance of Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), a womanizer who has top billing on an in-production Bible epic. Clooney gives a remarkable chameleon-like portrayal of the egotistical star best known for depicting grand and powerful characters, even though in person he is an academic midget easily swayed by the opinions of others.

Another tempest the studio representative needs to calm is the headliner in an aquatic picture. When he visits DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson) on set, she transforms from a delicate mermaid with a touch of seasickness into a tough talking broad with a case of morning sickness. Mannix knows how unhealthy it will be for everyone if the condition of the twice divorced and presently single swimming actress gets leaked to the press.

Next, classically trained director Laurence Laurentz (played to perfection by Ralph Fiennes) focuses his frustration on Mannix after studio politics assign a singing cowboy named Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich) as the lead male in his high-society romance. Despite his initial patience, getting the twang out of Hobie’s dialogue proves not to be “so simple!”

Meanwhile, on another soundstage, Burt Gurney (Channing Tatum who is having a blast doing a Gene Kelly impersonation) is dressed as a sailor and hoofing it to a song about dames. It is a great production number, although it is not clear how it ties into the plot…

And that may be the biggest disappointment with Hail, Caesar! Surprisingly, it is not the objectionable content, which is minimal—although there are verbal references to sexual behavior and innuendo along with frequent portrayals of characters drinking and smoking. The trouble is the movie falls short of pulling together a cohesive storyline. While this was also the case with many of the big films from those glory days (and perhaps is part of this production’s mocking of that era), I’m not sure modern audiences will be bamboozled enough to overlook that deficiency. Despite the witty performances and the inclusion of some satirical communist rhetoric, if you are not sufficiently familiar with the films and stars being mocked, I fear this Coen collaboration will just be another reason to believe it is a good thing that “they don’t make ‘em how they used to.”

About author

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the
beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates
preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.

Hail Caesar!Rating & Content Info

Why is Hail Caesar! rated PG-13?Hail Caesar! is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some suggestive content and smoking.

Violence: A movie studio films various scenes for pictures including: a western with a shoot-out where one of the actors is gunned down on screen, an underwater extravaganza where an actress is swallowed by a whale, and a Roman epic that depicts centurions beating slaves. An actor is secretly given a drug that causes him to fall asleep—then he is abducted. Kidnappers demand ransom money. A gossip columnist resorts to blackmail and extortion by digging up dirt on various celebrities and threating to print racy rumors. A lawyer is paid to create “legal fiction” to get stars out of trouble with the law. A character gets caught in a machine and nearly chokes. A photograph of an atom bomb explosion is shown. Characters lie to others. An angry man slaps another man and a woman.

Sexual Content: The script contains sexual references and innuendo. Remarks are made about womanizing, infidelity, adultery, sexual favors and homosexual relationships. Sodomy is specifically referred to. An unmarried woman is pregnant, and attempts are made to keep her condition a secret. A prop is seen that replaces the lower half of the statue of David (just the legs and the fig leaf). A dance number includes some sensual moves. Women are seen in bathing suits. A man takes suggestive photos of a woman. Comments are made about gas pains.

Language: Mild and moderate profanity is heard, along with several terms of deity used as expletives. Also included are slurs, name-calling and derogatory slang describing women.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Alcohol consumption and smoking are pervasively portrayed, which is in keeping with the movie’s 1950’s setting. References are made to characters “drying out”. A man is drugged by putting a sleeping powder into his goblet of wine

Other: Religious discussions occur around the making of a film depicting Jesus Christ. A Catholic goes to confession and prays. A crucifix statue with bloody wounds is shown. As well, the script contains cold war themes and communist rhetoric.

Page last updated July 17, 2017

More parents' guide for Hail Caesar! after the break...

Hail Caesar! Parents' Guide

Where does Mannix turn to for help managing his stress and find answers to his questions? Does that source help him? What does he learn about listening to his inner voice? Where do you go to get help with your personal problems?

A character from outside the film industry describes movies as frivolous. Do you agree with him? What things were happening in the 1950s that put the longevity of moviemaking at risk? How did the industry get around those challenges? What concerns are filmmakers facing now? Do you think they will survive these latest challenges?

Why is the studio so concerned about protecting the celebrities’ images? How might their inference obstruct justice? Do you think it will help or hinder the growth of those removed from natural consequences?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Hail Caesar! movie is June 7, 2016. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Hail, Caesar!Release Date: 7 June 2016Hail, Caesar! Releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following extras:
- Directing Hollywood – The Coen Brothers have been making their mark on Hollywood for decades, creating acclaimed movies with their unmistakable brand of humor and unique storytelling style. As Joel and Ethan Coen discuss why they wanted to set their film in 1950s Hollywood, the all-star cast talks about working with this talented duo.
- The Stars Align – Who better to appear in a film about Golden Age Hollywood and its stars than today’s biggest and brightest A-list talent? George Clooney, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Jonah Hill, Josh Brolin, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Alden Ehrenreich, and Frances McDormand all join the Coen brothers in their Hollywood playground. The cast shares what drew them to the project, the secrets of the unique and zany characters they play and how the Hollywood of Hail, Caesar! differs from the Hollywood they know.
- An Era of Glamour – From the costumes to the sets, no details were spared in Hail, Caesar! and the production designer, costume designer and other key design professionals sit down to talk about how this exciting era was returned to the big screen.
- Magic of a Bygone Era – Hail, Caesar! features two classic-in-the-making musical numbers: an aquatic spectacle featuring Scarlett Johansson and a rousing tap dance from Channing Tatum. The cast and crew explain the process of bringing these scenes to life, from costumes to choreography and everything in between.